Improvement in watchmen s time-detecters



J. H. MARVIL.

WATCHMANS TIME DETECTER.

No. 190,058. Patented April 24, 1877.

7 $7azza H. Marl/Z16.

UNITED STATES PATENT JOSHUA H. MARVIL, OF LAUREL, DELAWARE.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATCHMENS TlME-DETECTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l90,058, dated April24, 1877; application filed March 21, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSHUA H. MARVIL, of Laurel, in the county of Sussexand State of Delaware, have invented certain new'and useful Improvementsin Watchmans Time- Detecters, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to certain improvements in watchmanstime-detecters, its object being to provide an ordinary clock ortime-piece, in which the watchman may from time to time at certainstated intervals, as required, by settinga suitable pointer, indicatethat he has been on duty at proper time, and make a record of hisattendance, by which the superintendent or other person in charge ofmanufacturing and other establishments may determine the reliability ofparticular watchmen when on duty.

To this end my invention consists in combining with the hour-hand shaftof a clock or other time-piece a revolving disk having at suitableintervals a series of pointers, which pass in succession a given pointat the face of the clock or time-piece, at which point is provided anaperture for the insertion of a key to be carried by the watchman, whois required at the stated intervals at which the pointers arriveopposite the opening to set the same successively, so as to indicatethat he was on duty at the moment, the door of the case in which theclock is composed being provided with a suitable lock, the key of whichis in possession of the superintendent or other person in charge, inorder to prevent the revolving-disk and its pointers from being tamperedwith by the watchman.

In the drawing, the letter A represents a clock of ordinary constructioninclosed in a casing, 13, having a hinged front or door, 0, which isprovided with a lock or other suitable fastening device, D, the key ofwhich is retained in possession of the superintendent or other person incharge. In place of the hour-hand of such clock or time-piece issubstituted a circular disk or wheel, E, upon which is engraved ormarked the representation of the hour-hand of the clock, as shown at Fin proper relative position to the minutehand G thereof. The saidminute-hand is secured to the minute-hand shaft of the clock ortime-piece as usual, and performs the same functions as the minute-handof an ordinary clock or time-piece. At suitable distances at or near theedge of the disk E are secured a series of any convenient number ofpointers, H, according to the stated times at which the watchman isrequired to set his time, which may be such as to require him to be onhand from every five minutes to any other stated periods, during thehour. The said pointers are affixed to shafts or journals turning simplyin their bearings in the disk, and provided with squared or otherwiseshaped ends for the reception of a key by which they may be turned.

At one or more points in the glass face of the casing, as may berequired, directly opposite the circular line described by the shafts ofthe pointers as they revolve with the dial, are arranged one or moreapertures for the insertion of a key, by which the watchman may changethe position of any particular pointer as it arrives opposite suchkey-hole or opening.

The operation of my invention is as follows: Upon closing up of theestablishment, at the time the watchman goes on duty, the door of theclock of the time-piece is securely locked by the superintendent, thepointers all being in the same relative positions, the Watchman beingfurnished with a key by which he may change the positions of saidpointers as they arrive successively opposite the key-hole or key-holesin the glass plate of the door of the case, his duty being to be on handas each pointer passes said key hole or holes and to make such change.When properly performing his duty, he will be compelled to be on handprecisely at the stated time in order to make the proper change in theposi tion of the pointer, and if he fails the disk will carry it pastthe proper key-hole and he will thereby be unable to make the change,which will be indicated to the superintendent or person in charge,showing the exact time at which the neglect of duty occurred.

The pointers are so arranged that on the first day they are all changedto point to the center of the disk, and on the succeeding day to theperiphery thereof, and vice versa, thus making it unnecessary tospecially set them from day to day.

The advantages of my improved apparatus will be apparent from the abovedescription. It will be seen that the watchman will find it imperativelynecessary to set the pointers, and any dereliction in duty will berecorded and noted, and will be indicated to the super intendent orperson in charge when the watch is relieved, thus insuring the mostfaithful attendance of the watchman.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In combination with the hour-hand shaft of a clock or other time-piece,a rotating disk carrying a series of pointers adapted to pass JOSHUA H.MARVIL. Witnesses:

THOMAS W. RALPH, V. S. MABVIL.

